Benza claims Weinstein said that New York Magazine was trying to “do a Bill Cosby” on him.

Benza says the shamed mogul — who has been accused by more than 80 women of sexual misconduct, harassment, assault or rape — told him, “We’ve got to come up with a plan where you can figure out who’s talking to New York Magazine. Maybe you can pose as an author writing a book that slams me.”

Benza — who said that he wouldn’t have considered working on the faux book if he had known the extent of the accusations that would eventually be made against Weinstein — says that he didn’t think the plan would work, but that Weinstein offered to pay him $20,000 a month for the job.

As The New Yorker reported, Weinstein eventually hired private detectives to find out who was talking to the press about him, but it all backfired.

A rep for Weinstein said, “Mr. Benza is a friend of Mr. Weinstein’s but they clearly have a difference of opinion. Mr. Weinstein asked Mr. Benza if he had heard anything about a New York Magazine article, but never asked him to write a book.”